Chapter 113

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Chapter 113: The Kind Passerby

As Wan Yangyu and the others exchanged uneasy looks over Mu Lin’s words, Mu Lin’s voice sounded again.

"Everything requires evidence. I’ll fight if you insist, but I won’t accept false accusations without proof."

"Also, wasn’t it you who asked, ‘Who else could it be besides me?’"

Mu Lin turned his gaze toward a girl from Qianyang Taoist Palace – Wan Yangyu’s partner Xiaolu, whose cultivation level was solid.

But when Mu Lin looked at her, she immediately ducked behind Wan Yangyu like a mouse avoiding a poisonous snake, leaving Mu Lin momentarily speechless.

‘Am I that terrifying?’

While Mu Lin was still processing this reaction, Wan Yangyu stepped forward.

"Xiaolu’s right. If you didn’t hurt Cai Tian, who did?"

Mu Lin shrugged. "Plenty of suspects. Remember those evil spirits haunting Spring Fountain City? They might’ve struck since you were all crowding around me."

"Or maybe he injured himself to frame me. Could’ve been some righteous passerby punishing his foul behavior…"

His voice dropped to an icy tone.

"I did warn everyone earlier – slanderers and smooth talkers tend to invite trouble. Others aren’t as tolerant as I am."

"Agh…!"

Mu Lin’s casual mockery made Cai Tian snap. Though his torn-out tongue left him screaming incoherently, his hate-filled eyes burned with certainty that Mu Lin was the culprit.

Mu Lin frowned at the vicious glare.

"If I were you, I’d stop staring like that. It’s repulsive. Keep it up and some concerned bystander might poke those eyes out."

"Watch out!"

Wan Yangyu’s warning came too late. Even as his teammates formed protective formation around Cai Tian, a wet pop echoed through the air.

"AAAAH!!"

The group froze when Cai Tian’s eyes burst. Their tight defense circle hadn’t mattered. This horrific confirmation chilled their bones – Mu Lin’s mere displeasure had cost Cai Tian both tongue and sight.

"If Mu Lin hated me, did I have confidence to block his attacks?"

Wan Yangyu and his companions answered this question in an instant, and the result was clear—no.

None of them believed they could withstand Mu Lin’s strike.

What chilled them even more was that the attack wasn’t just powerful—it defied all logic.

When Mu Lin declared his disgust for Cai Tian’s eyes, they’d all watched him closely. Yet despite their vigilance, none detected how the attack was launched.

No one had sensed any magical fluctuations from Mu Lin.

Being unable to see, touch, or even feel the magic meant they couldn’t block or evade his strikes.

"Damn! What kind of trick is this?"

As cold dread seeped into their bones, Mu Lin’s voice broke through again.

"It actually worked! Must’ve been that kind soul who intervened."

When all eyes turned to him, Mu Lin spread his hands innocently. "Hey, you don’t think it was me, right? I’ve been sitting here the whole time."

"……"

The casual tone made Wan Yangyu’s chest tighten. He was absolutely certain Mu Lin had attacked.

Every fiber of his being wanted to subdue Mu Lin immediately.

Yet he stayed his hand.

"I can’t withstand that mysterious attack. Acting now might backfire."

"More importantly—this might not even be his real body!"

Though every instinct told him this was the genuine Mu Lin, Wan Yangyu wasn’t foolish. Most spells left magical fluctuations.

The complete absence during Cai Tian’s attack suggested either overwhelming power… or this being a decoy.

Given Mu Lin’s magical cultivation remained at Spring Fountain’s early stage, the clone theory fit better.

It also explained why Mu Lin had beelined for the tavern upon entering Tower of Illusions.

"His actions seem idiotic for a real body—but perfect for a distraction clone."

While convinced this was a clone, Wan Yangyu remained paralyzed with indecision.

A magically amplified whisper reached him: "Brother Wan! Do we strike?"

"Wait. Hold position."

"But why?"

He quickly shared his reasoning with the team. After discussion, most agreed—except Fan Tie.

"So it’s a clone? Let’s crush it anyway! Better than doing nothing."

Hearing this, Wan Yangyu sighed deeply.

"We haven’t openly broken relations yet, so he might not attack us first. But if we make the first move, he’ll have free rein to retaliate."

"Then he’ll be hidden in darkness while we remain exposed – putting us at grave disadvantage."

Truthfully, Wan Yangyu wouldn’t fear simple light-dark dynamics.

But Mu Lin had demonstrated those incomprehensible, erratic attacks. With such capability lurking unseen, sleep itself became difficult.

Dread of these mysterious assaults forced Wan Yangyu to clench his teeth and acknowledge Mu Lin’s claim, despite knowing the truth.

"You’re right. Without evidence, we can’t confirm you attacked Cai Tian."

This made Mu Lin chuckle.

"Heh, so reasonable… but what if I confessed?"

"…"

The statement froze Wan Yangyu’s group mid-action. Watching their reaction, Mu Lin laughed again.

"Jesting. I’m law-abiding and don’t attack people wantonly."

With that, Mu Lin closed his eyes to rest.

His utter disregard made Wan Yangyu’s group grind their teeth. Exchanging glances, they began silent communication.

"Brother Wan, how to handle him? We can’t just sit idle!"

"Considering…"

…

Unable to locate Mu Lin’s true form or defend against his ghostly attacks, Wan Yangyu’s group remained trapped in the tavern, not daring to provoke open conflict.

Outside observers – teachers and students – witnessed everything. Like Wan Yangyu, they’d never seen Mu Lin’s power before. The terrifying, mysterious display left them shaken.

After initial shock came exhilaration.

"One command extracts tongues, another blinds eyes! Awakened Realm Cai Tian became his plaything!"

"Never imagined Mu Lin’s strength…"

"Victory’s assured now."

"Don’t relax. While Qianyang Taoist Palace’s Wan Yangyu can’t match Mu Lin, the Spirit Pool Realm evils in Tower of Illusions remain dangerous. If they join forces…"

Mu Lin ignored both Wan Yangyu’s fears and outside chatter. He was already moving – the tavern’s resting figure merely a decoy as Wan Yangyu suspected.

His true body had buried underground using Yin Spirit Coffin hours earlier. Meanwhile, paper cranes silently multiplied across Spring Fountain City.

Having refined Morning Purple Air, Mu Lin’s vitality of the living now carried yang energy. Thus these White Paper cranes fluttered freely even in daylight, becoming his eyes hunting monsters and evil spirits.

Yet Spring Fountain City’s fiends hid well – the paper cranes found no traces.

"Not entirely useless. At least they prevent killings under my watch…"

As Mu Lin murmured, Head Constable Gu Quan and military leader Zhuang Zhan led citywide searches. The darting paper cranes caught their attention.

Seeing the lifelike paper birds, they sighed in relief.

"That must be his work. Good – he hasn’t abandoned us."

The aerial surveillance boosted constables’ and soldiers’ confidence. But Gu Quan soon scowled, shouting:

"You! Where going? Return here!"

"Deaf to warnings? Avoid remote areas!"

"Stop entering alleys!"

Despite monster alerts, reckless citizens kept darting into shadowy alleys – men, women, children with endless excuses: shortcuts, urgent needs, chasing birds…

Gu Quan dragged them back, exasperated.

"Magistrate’s orders mean nothing?!"

"Piss yourselves before entering alleys!"

Post-rescue lectures followed. What chilled Gu Quan and Zhuang Zhan wasn’t the scolding, but realizing their efforts came too late for some.